Planes, Trains & Automobiles

Before we even started our RTW trip, Brian knew he wanted to see Machu Picchu in Peru. We did some research and came across a company called Peru Treks in Cusco offering 4-day guided tours of the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu. Peru Treks provides community outreach programs and has an excellent porter policy. Their porters are the most highly paid of all of the trekking companies, are provided with boots, coats, sleeping bags and mattresses, and get plenty of food to eat. These all seem like basic necessities, but only until a few years ago, that was not the case (porters use to carry up to 60kg (135lbs!) until they unionized and won 25kg limits). …

Our trip to Peru started off pretty rocky. Our flight to Lima was Rome to Paris to Bogota to Lima. But due to the restrictions on our tickets (we had to always travel west), I couldn’t fly out of Rome since I’d already flown into Paris. As a result I had to book a ticket to Paris from Rome the night before and meet up with Brian the next morning at the airport. My Easyjet flight from Rome to Paris-Orly was 1 ½ hours late departing. So instead of arriving at 10:30 pm, I arrived at midnight. I caught a taxi and headed to the hotel I booked earlier that day. After 10 minutes …